“THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT,” featuring VA Puget Sound, debuts May 10 on HBO
One of the most devastating forms of memory loss is Alzheimer’s disease, an irreversible and progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. Today, Alzheimer’s is the second most-feared illness in America, following cancer, and may affect as many as five million Americans. As the baby-boom generation reaches retirement, that number could soar to more than 11 million by 2040 and have a huge economic impact on America’s already fragile healthcare system.

Scientific research is gaining momentum in discovering ways to treat and possibly prevent Alzheimer’s. HBO’s “THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT” takes a close look at groundbreaking discoveries made by the country’s leading scientists, including researchers at VA Puget Sound Health Care System, as well as the effects of this debilitating and fatal disease both on those with Alzheimer’s and on their families.

“We are honored that the research we have conducted at the VA Puget Sound was included in this important documentary,” said Dr. Suzanne Craft, Associate Director at VA Puget Sound Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, at the University of Washington. “Our work has critical public health implications, because it addresses the question of how widespread conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and insulin resistance increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Even more importantly, our research suggests novel approaches to treating or preventing this devastating disease through development of new drugs targeting insulin pathways or through lifestyle changes.”

The first of the four documentaries in THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT is “The Memory Loss Tapes” (debuting May 10), which provides an up-close and personal look at seven individuals living with Alzheimer’s, each in an advancing state of dementia across the full spectrum of the progression of the disease. “Momentum In Science” (May 11 and 12) is a two-part state-of-the-science film that takes viewers inside the laboratories and clinics of 25 leading scientists and physicians including Dr. Craft’s research at VA Puget Sound, revealing some of the most cutting-edge research advances. “‘Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am?’ with Maria Shriver” (May 11) captures what it means to be a child or grandchild of one with Alzheimer’s, while “Caregivers” (May 12) highlights the sacrifices and successes of people who experience their loved ones’ descent into dementia.

With our country at war on two fronts, we often hear about valorous actions that have occurred during a particular battle. Or, like my previous story, we hear about things our Troops do to help those less fortunate than us, in the countries they’re serving in. When our Troops are at home, it’s not often that we hear about their accomplishments or things that they do, that are considered extraordinary or above and beyond the call of duty. Those types of things happen much more often then what we even realize, often because our Troops don’t feel that they need recognition or acclaim for the things that they do, that to us, might seem heroic. These are just the types of things, however, that the American public does need to know about. We as Americans should be aware of the courage and bravery of our Troops, both on and off of the battlefield.

General George W. Casey Jr. presents an Army Commendation Medal to Pfc. Seth Manderscheid during a ceremony Tuesday at Carey Theater.

Because of the actions of one young Soldier at Fort Lewis, Washington, a 7 year old girl is alive today. Had it not been for his quick reaction to things that unfolded around him, the little girl is alive today. It was a typical March afternoon as PFC Seth Manderscheid of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division drove down the streets of Lacey, Washington. Ahead of him, he noticed the familiar site of a school bus pulled over at the side of the road with it’s red warning lights flashing and stop sign out, indicating that children were either getting on or off of the bus. Something that each of us probably see every day. In all states, drivers are to stop to allow for the children to safely cross streets as they board or get off of the bus at their stops. As is normal for children, they jumped from the bus and made their way across the street, in front of the bus.

Suddenly, PFC Manderscheid noticed the car in front of him pulling out and accelerating to pass the bus. Manderscheid watched as the driver, whom he estimated at going approximately 30 MPH, struck a young girl, tossing her body into the air. She landed about 30 feet from where the car struck her. Having just recently earning his Combat Lifesaver Badge, PFC Manderscheid quickly got into action, jumping from his car and running to the unconscious child lying in the roadway.

“I checked for a pulse,” Manderscheid said. “There was no pulse. I looked to see if her chest was rising up and down. That wasn’t happening either. So I did CPR. I was just reacting, using what I’ve been taught.”1

While PFC Manderscheid performed CPR on the young girl, someone else called 911 and summoned paramedics. Others calmed the young girls mother, who was understandably hysterical and keeping her back while Manderscheid continued CPR on her daughter, for about 5 minutes, until the paramedics arrived. I don’t know how many of our readers have had to perform CPR for real, but I have and I can tell you that 5 minutes seems like an eternity, when you’re trying to save someone’s life. When Paramedic Michael Theriault arrived, he found the young girl breathing with Manderscheid keeping her calm. The Emergency Medical Crew took over for Manderscheid.

“Seth assisted me with getting the child on a back board and getting her into the ambulance,” Theriault said. “The child only has a mild concussion with two broken ribs. Needless to say, that if it were not for the actions of Seth Manderscheid, the child would not have survived.”2

Manderscheid didn’t think a whole lot about what had happened. After the ambulance drove off towards the hospital with the young girl inside, Manderscheid proceeded to his home, where he told his wife what had happened. Imagine his surprise and probably a bit of suspicion when he was told on April Fool’s Day (of all days) that he would be receiving the Army Commendation Medal for his actions that day. PFC Manderscheid was told thatArmy Chief of Staff General George Casey would be coming to Fort Lewis and would be pinning on his medal. On April 7th, General Casey awarded PFC Manderscheid with the Army Commendation Medal.

“It’s pretty cool,” Manderscheid said. “Pretty exciting.”

“Seth is a hero,” said Theriault. “I believe that you have one unbelievable Soldier.”3

I couldn’t agree more. So often in situations like this, people just pretend that they don’t what happened, or just ignore what they saw. PFC Manderscheid could have done just that, but instead chose to react to the situation he saw unfolding in front of him and thus saved the life of a young girl. I’m sure that this little girls parents are eternally grateful to the American Hero who saved their daughters life.

Please help Washington Angel Rosell Portin win a trip for her soldier & his family to a dude Ranch in Idaho. They are catching up but this is the LAST DAY TO VOTE!! Many of you saw the first posting of this on the blog and came through. Now we need to Spread the word today to as many people as we can. Post on blogs, myspaces, facebooks, send emails. Tell friends, families ,organizations, church groups, schools, college friends etc etc. We can do this!! Let’s help her win that trip for her soldier!!

Hello Washington! In our efforts to build a strong Washington team and increase our support efforts, Soldiers’ Angels Washington has created a Patti/Soldiers’Angels approved, Washington Facebook Page, Facebook Group and Twitter page. We encourage you to join all of these groups. These social networking sites are great ways to ‘meet’ other angels, discuss projects and events you may be working on, brainstorm ideas or simply see what’s coming up next in the state without having to dig for information or wait for an email. By being a part of these Washington State sites you not only can connect on a local level, but you will be directly connected (with a click) on the national level to the directors and official group. It’s a fast way to receive information! I love it! Here are the links:

Subscribe to our Blog too (by clicking on the subscribe button on the rt.menu) These are all great ways to build a strong Washington team by keeping us connected and informed! The more connected we are, the more our support efforts can grow and benefit those who have served and continue to serve. Thanks Angels!

For those of you in the Vancouver WA/Portland area, you may want to also add our Oregon State sites. There are many events that come up for that area and joining will help you keep informed! The links are listed on the Oregon Blog here > SOLDIERS’ ANGELS OREGON

Soldiers Angels has been invited to the National Tea Party Day, at Pioneer Courthouse Square. by Rosie Gagnon’s. She wants more attention to Support the Troops and has offered for us to have a table, at this National Tea Party Day Ralley, Patti has approved for us to be at this event.

So Angels we need to show up, and explain what SA is, does, and sign up angels. I will bring a table, banner, care package, I will try to print out some business cards, I have my trifold of pictures from Iraq/Afganistan. We will be talking to people who want a way to support the troops. They will make announcements during the event, to come by our table and sign up. If you have a SA tshirt, please wear it, it will catch people’s attention. It will also be announced on a radio station to come by.

Please let me know if you can attend, it starts at 6pm, due to the crowd expected, several thousand, she suggests we be there at 5, I hope to try to get there by 4:30, That way I might find parking, drop off the table, etc, etc.

This protest rally will be held at the same time around the US. It should be an interesting evening, lol.

NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT CEREMONIES COMING UP IN MAY NEED YOUR HELP ANGELS! These are Deployment Ceremonies in Oregon, but Washington Angels are Welcome. For Deployment ceremonies in Washington, please let us know if you are interested at soldiersangelswashington@gmail.com

Soldiers’ Angels has been invited to several Deployment Ceremonies in May. If you’d like to participate by helping at the Soldiers’ Angels Tables or by mingling with the Soldiers and giving them all a great send off then please Let us know! Contact Sherry Crenshaw your Oregon CTL to let her know and obtain further details on locations and times. Ceremonies usually last an hour. This is a great chance to let everyone know Soldiers’ Angels is ready to support these deploying Warriors. What an absolutely wonderful connector to the Soldiers, families, community and military support professionals! Sherry’s email is ctlor06 @ gmail.com Thanks angels!

Veterans groups were present at the White House when President Obama, VA secretary Shinseki and Defense Secretary Gates announced their support of two major initiatives that will benefit Veterans. Here is a communicative from Paul Reickoff of the IAVA organization about this announcement. Lets keep the pressure on this administration to follow through on these promises so they will become tomorrow’s reality.

I visited the White House today, and I have some great news that I wanted to share with you right away.

This morning I joined President Obama, VA Secretary Shinseki, and Defense Secretary Gates as they announced their support for two major initiatives that will have an enormous impact on the lives of our nation’s veterans. Both of the programs are top legislative priorities for IAVA this year.

The first is a new program called the “Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record Initiative.” It’s a complicated name for a critical change that is long over-due, and it will help bring the VA and DOD healthcare systems into the 21st century.

Right now, there is no easy process for transferring servicemembers’ medical records from the DOD to the VA when they leave active duty. As a result, some of our most seriously wounded troops are suffering through redundant tests, misdiagnoses, and delayed treatment. This initiative will make medical and military records electronic and transferable, meaning a more streamlined, less bureaucratic process for our injured troops.

But this isn’t just a matter of eliminating red tape. This change impacts the health, and lives, of the men and women who have served our country.

The second major initiative is advance funding for VA healthcare, which was the main focus of our annual “Storm the Hill” trip last February. For nineteen of the last twenty-two years, the VA budget has been passed late, forcing the nation’s largest healthcare provider to ration care.Imagine trying to plan for next month’s bills without knowing the size of your next paycheck.That’s what veterans hospitals do almost every year. Today’s announcement is a major step towards ending that cycle.

Today has been a great day for our men and women in uniform. We’re proud to have been a part of this landmark announcement, and we’re looking forward to making sure today’s promises become tomorrow’s reality.

The deadline for this event is fast approaching…only a few days left before registration closes. If you know of a Wounded Warrior who would like to go fishing in Alaska email soldiersangelswashington@gmail.com asap.

Criteria:

MUST HAVE BEEN COMBAT INJURED

MUST HAVE SERVED IN IRAQ OR AFGHANASTAN
MUST BE ABLE TO MEET US (WTB) AT SEATAC FOR THE FLIGHT